Basel in cautious mood

FC Basel are talking down their chances of another English scalp after being drawn with Newcastle United FC in today's UEFA Cup second-round draw.

Winning run
Basel have won their first 13 Swiss league games but, in Newcastle, face another team that reached last season's UEFA Champions League last 16. However, in that competition Basel eliminated Liverpool FC from the first group stage and then held Manchester United FC at Old Trafford.

'Very happy'
However, Basel vice-president Gigi Oeri believes her team are underdogs despite their fine form. "We are very happy to have drawn an English club but I think at the moment they are happier than us," she told uefa.com. "The boys are doing very well amd I hope they will win the championship and the [Swiss] Cup."

Chairman confident
Newcastle chairman Freddie Shepherd said: "It could have been worse but Basel are going to be hard." When asked about Basel's winning run, he said: "That is good for them but I am sure we will turn the tables on them. We are thankful to be in the UEFA Cup, it is a great structure that allows us to be involved after dropping out of the Champions League."

Form teams meet
Valencia CF who went one better than Basel and Newcastle in reaching the 2002/03 Champions League quarter-finals, meet Israel's Maccabi Haifa FC. Both teams currently lead their domestic championships, and Valencia coach Rafael Benítez knows his side's progress is far from assured. "This season, they have signed Dante López, a Paraguayan striker who was a sensation in the [FIFA] World Youth Championship," Benítez said. "They also beat Manchester United 3-0 [in the Champions League last season] so as always we will have to keep our wits about us."

Not easy for Auxerre
French contenders AJ Auxerre are another side who impressed in the Champions League last season, but they also received tricky opposition in the shape for Dutch team FC Utrecht. Auxerre marketing manager Loïc Chevalier said: "Utrecht are a good team. I hope we will have a lot of supporters that will go but I do not think it will be easy." Utrecht coach Foeke Booy admitted of Auxerre: "Of course, they are favourites. It really is a challenge for us, in which we have to get an advantage from our home match. The French league is strong, but we will do anything we can to reach the next round."

City aim
Manchester City FC, who gained a fair play entry to the competition, take on European debutants Groclin Grodzisk Wielkopolski of Poland who surprised German team Hertha BSC Berlin in the last round. City beat another Polish side, Górnik Zabrze, to win the 1969/70 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, and director Dennis Tueart, said: "It is the next round that is the main thing. It will be a difficult draw but that is what you expect at this stage of the competition."

Hearts hope
Scotland's sole survivors Heart of Midlothian FC were paired with FC Girondins de Bordeaux, well aware that their only previous brush with French opposition was in the 1984/85 UEFA Cup first round when they lost 6-2 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain FC. Hearts chief executive Chris Robinson said: "French clubs are doing well at the moment so it is a tough tie for us but we will have a passionate second-leg tie in Edinburgh in a very tight stadium."

Mixed feelings
Meanwhile, FC Schalke 04 striker Ebbe Sand admits he has mixed feeling about playing his former team Brøndby IF. "It is always special when you come up against former clubs, but it was not the draw I had hoped for," he said